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“Wow! I’ve never seen a solid black German Shepherd!”
A black German Shepherd? The above statement may be something you have heard, or even expressed yourself at one time or another when stopped during your travels, walking through the park, visiting a neighbor, or perhaps searching for your very own German Shepherd puppy to purchase. Not surprisingly, the solid black German Shepherd isn’t as common as the other colors, such as black & tan, bi-color, and sable.
Black German Shepherd Genetics
Why isn’t this a surprise? Well, it all comes down to the genetics that produce a solid black Shepherd dog. While in some breeds the color black is the dominant gene, known as K-Locus, German Shepherds are a bit different. They carry, or rather MAY carry (not all GSDs carry it), a recessive gene known as A-Locus. The A-Locus gene is what you can thank for that beautiful animal you passed while on the hiking trail – yep, the same one that made you turn your head and speak to the owner. You can read here for a more in-depth study on German Shepherd genetics.
How to produce a black Shepherd – the easy way
Producing black German Shepherd puppies is simple enough, if you have the right ingredients, also known as parents. Being a recessive gene, if you put two solid black Shepherds together then they will both contribute A-Locus, so the outcome is that none of the more dominant colors or patterns will be present in the litter. Yep, all black puppies will be the result.
How to produce a black Shepherd – more complex
It gets a bit more complicated from there, however. Have you ever seen a litter produced by a two black and tan German Shepherds, or a bi-color and sable, and have black puppies result? It can happen, though it will almost certainly not be the entire litter, and probably not even half. If each parent carries the A-Locus gene “hidden” beneath their expressed gene, then they could, in theory, each pass that recessive gene to the same puppy and, you guessed it! That puppy would be a black German Shepherd. What a neat possibility! It’s not always this simple, obviously, but those are the basics of what it takes to produce this uncommon and beautiful color of dog.
Are black Shepherds different from other German Shepherds?
In a word (or two), not really, except for their striking, stand-out color. These dogs have all the traits found in German Shepherds of more common colors: loyal, sweet, excellent with children, versatile, trainable, protective, and more. When well-bred, the color truly is secondary. You can feel free to choose a favorite while knowing that in a well-bred dog the traits you love will all be present.
Along those lines, if the color you’ve set your heart on is not available in your preferred time frame, not to worry! You can likely find a puppy of a similar color from the same breeder that will suit your purposes. Remember: it’s what’s inside the dog (temperament & health) that will affect how you live with your new companion. The color? It’s just decoration.
Are black German Shepherds aggressive?
Not when bred well, socialized properly, and trained diligently. Just like any other German Shepherd Dog, they require socialization and obedience training. Aggression is not an issue typically found in well-bred/raised Shepherds.
Where to buy a black German Shepherd
There are many breeders who either specialize in black German Shepherds or who will produce them from time to time along with the more easily recognized patterns. Working with a breeder who is both knowledgable and professional should be a top goal, even higher than that of obtaining a certain color of puppy.
We at DogSmith Purebreds strive to offer the best of all services when helping place puppies with their new owners. If you are searching for a puppy, feel free to contact us about a Black German Shepherd and we will be happy to help. Additionally, you can check out our puppies for sale page for more information on our breeding and puppy-raising purposes.
